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Nudge, nudge...

Posted by Gary on August 05, 2000

In Reply to: Nudge, nudge... posted by ESC on August 05, 2000

: "Nudge, nudge." is actually a British expression taken from a comedy sketch from the "Monty Python Flying Circus" television show. The show quickly became a favorite in the U.S. and people still quote from it. The sketch involves two men. A "squire" and an annoying stranger who attaches a sexual meaning to everything the squire innocently says.

: Nudge Nudge, know what I mean, know what I mean! from the "Monty Python Live at City Center" album

: Man: 'Evening, squire!
: Squire: (stiffly) Good evening.
: Man: Is, uh,...Is your wife a goer, eh? Know whatahmean, know whatahmean, nudge nudge, know whatahmean, say no more?
: Squire: I, uh, I beg your pardon? M: Your, uh, your wife, does she go, eh, does she go, eh?
: S: (flustered) Well, she sometimes "goes", yes.
: M: Aaaaaaaah bet she does, I bet she does, say no more, say no more, knowwhatahmean, nudge nudge?
: S: (confused) I'm afraid I don't quite follow you.
: M: Follow me. Follow me. That's good, that's good! A nod's as good as a wink to a blind bat!
: S: Are you, uh,...are you selling something?
: M: SELLING! Very good, very good! Ay? Ay? Ay? (pause)
: M: Oooh! Ya wicked Ay! Wicked Ay! Oooh hooh! Say No MORE!
: S: Well, I, uh....
: M: Is, your uh, is your wife a sport, ay?
: S: Um, she likes sport, yes!
: M: I bet she does, I bet she does!
: S: As a matter of fact she's very fond of cricket.
: M: 'Oo isn't? Likes games, eh? Knew she would. Likes games, eh? She's been around a bit, been around?
: S: She has traveled, yes. She's from Scarsdale. (pause)
: M: SAY NO MORE!!
: M: Scarsdale, saynomore, saynomore, saynomore, squire!
: S: I wasn't going to!
: M: Oh! Well, never mind. Dib dib? Is your uh, is your wife interested in....photography, ay? "Photographs, ay", he asked him knowingly?
: S: Photography?
: M: Snap snap, grin grin, wink wink, nudge nudge, say no more?
: S: Holiday snaps, eh?
: M: They could be, they could be taken on holiday. Candid, you know, CANDID photography?
: S: No, no I'm afraid we don't have a camera.
: M: Oh. (leeringly) Still, mooooooh, ay? Mwoohohohohoo, ay? Hohohohohoho, ay?
: S: Look... are you insinuating something?
: M: Oh, no, no, no...yes.
: S: Well?
: M: Well, you're a man of the world, squire.
: S: Yes...
: M: I mean, you've been around a bit, you know, like, you've, uh.... You've "done it"....
: S: What do you mean?
: M: Well, I mean like,....you've SLEPT, with a lady....
: S: Yes....
: M: What's it like?

The phrase was in use in the UK before Python, although they probably gave it to the rest of the world. Also the blind bat is a playful variation - the creature was previously a blind horse.

Pointless name drop of the day... In a previous life I was a recording engineer and had the pleasure of recording the Lumberjack Song with Michael Palin. Pointless ndotd 2... at the time I was John Cleese's neighbour.

Gary

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